The by-polls to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will be held on February 26 after the announcement of its schedule on January 9 next, reports UNB. The decision came yesterday at the Election Commission's meeting held with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair in the city's Nirbachan Bhaban. EC acting Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said this while briefing reporters after the meeting. Besides, the elections for the 36 councilor posts and 12 reserved seats in the 36 new wards -18 of the DNCC and 18 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)-will be held on the same day.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant with the death of Annisul Huq onNovember 30 last. Helaluddin said the EC has yet to take decision if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will be used instead of ballot paper in the city election. He said aspirants of the election will have to remove their posters and banners from the display by January 6 midnight. Otherwise, they will face legal action.

The Commission has already issued directive for the authority concerned in this regard, he added. The EC meeting also took decision to arrange by-elections to Gaibandha-1 and Brahmanbaria-1 constituencies on March 13, Helaluddin said.

The schedule for the parliamentary by-polls will be announced on February 5, the EC acting secretary said.

The Brahmanbaria-1 constituency fell vacant on December 16 last with the demise of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque, while Gaibandha-1 on December 19 with the death of Golam Mostafa Ahmed.